Overview
Abirapro 250mg is a tablet that contains abiraterone acetate 250mg. It is made by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd and is a generic version of Zytiga. Abiraterone acetate is a CYP17 inhibitor that lowers the body’s production of male hormones (androgens). It is used together with prednisone to treat metastatic prostate cancer in men.
- Abiraterone acetate 250mg per tablet
- Generic version of Zytiga
- For metastatic prostate cancer, with prednisone
- Taken once a day on an empty stomach
Uses
According to the official label, abiraterone acetate is used together with prednisone to treat men with:
- metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) — prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and keeps growing even though testosterone has been lowered
- metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) — prostate cancer that has spread and still responds to lowering testosterone
Men taking it should also receive a hormone treatment called a GnRH analog at the same time, or should have had both testicles removed by surgery (orchiectomy).
See more prostate cancer medicines and anti-cancer medicines.
How it works
In the body, abiraterone acetate is turned into abiraterone, which blocks an enzyme called CYP17. This enzyme is found in the testicles, the adrenal glands and prostate tumour tissue, and it is needed to make androgens such as testosterone. Prostate cancer that is sensitive to androgens grows more slowly when androgen levels are lowered, so blocking CYP17 cuts off a source of the hormones the cancer uses to grow.
Dosage
Take Abirapro exactly as your cancer doctor prescribes. The doses on the official label are:
- Usual dose: 1,000mg once a day (four 250mg tablets), taken with prednisone — 5mg twice a day for castration-resistant cancer, or 5mg once a day for castration-sensitive cancer.
- Take all the tablets for the day together as one dose, once a day, on an empty stomach. Do not eat for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after the dose. Taking it with food raises the amount of medicine in your blood.
- Swallow the tablets whole with water — do not crush or chew them.
- Moderate liver problems: the starting dose is lowered to 250mg once a day. It should not be used in people with severe liver problems.
- If liver problems start during treatment, the doctor may pause it and restart at a lower dose (750mg, then 500mg once a day).
- Missed dose: take your usual dose the next day. If you miss more than one dose, tell your doctor right away.
Safety warning
Abiraterone can cause serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you get any of these:
- High blood pressure, low potassium and fluid build-up — these can lead to irregular heartbeats and can be life-threatening. Your blood pressure, potassium and signs of fluid retention are checked at least once a month. Report dizziness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, feeling faint, headache, confusion, muscle weakness, leg pain or swelling of the legs or feet.
- Adrenal problems (adrenocortical insufficiency) — may happen if you stop prednisone, have an infection or are under stress. Do not stop or change your prednisone dose without talking to your doctor.
- Liver problems — can be severe and can lead to death. Your liver is checked with blood tests before and during treatment. Report yellowing of the skin or eyes, darkening of the urine, or severe nausea or vomiting.
- Low blood sugar — severe low blood sugar has happened in people with diabetes who also take pioglitazone or repaglinide. Check your blood sugar regularly.
- Radium Ra 223 dichloride: using abiraterone plus prednisone together with radium-223 is not recommended, because more fractures and deaths were seen.
Your doctor may lower your dose, pause or stop treatment if serious side effects happen.
Side effects
The most common side effects in clinical trials (in 10% of patients or more) were:
- Tiredness
- Joint pain
- High blood pressure
- Nausea
- Swelling (edema)
- Low potassium
- Hot flushes
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Upper respiratory infection
- Cough
- Headache
Common changes in blood tests include low red blood cells (anemia), raised alkaline phosphatase, raised triglycerides and cholesterol, high blood sugar and low potassium. Abiraterone may affect fertility in men.
Interactions
- Strong CYP3A4 inducers (such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine and phenobarbital): they lower abiraterone levels and should be avoided. If one must be used, the doctor may change how often you take abiraterone.
- CYP2D6 substrates with a narrow safety margin (such as thioridazine): abiraterone raises their levels, so they should be avoided or their dose lowered.
- Diabetes medicines pioglitazone and repaglinide: risk of severe low blood sugar — blood sugar should be checked and the diabetes medicine dose may need changing.
- Radium Ra 223 dichloride: not recommended together with abiraterone plus prednisone.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements you take.
Pregnancy & contraception
Abiraterone is for men and is not used in women. It may harm an unborn baby and cause loss of pregnancy. Men with a female partner who could become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose. Women who are or may be pregnant should not handle the tablets, especially if broken, crushed or damaged, without protection such as gloves.
Storage
Store at room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); short periods between 15°C and 30°C (59°F to 86°F) are allowed. Keep out of the reach of children.
Pack sizes & prices
| Pack | Price per tablet | Pack price |
|---|---|---|
| 120 Tablets | $6.99 | $838.80 |
| 240 Tablets | $6.20 | $1488.00 |
| 360 Tablets | $5.80 | $2088.00 |
| 480 Tablets | $5.00 | $2400.00 |
Abirapro 250mg comes in bottles of 120 tablets. See our shipping policy for delivery times and costs, and how ordering works. Browse all medications.
FAQs
Is Abirapro 250mg the same as Zytiga?
Both contain abiraterone acetate as the active ingredient. Abirapro is made by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals; Zytiga is the brand name used by Janssen Biotech in the US.
How many tablets do I take a day?
The usual dose is 1,000mg once a day, which is four 250mg tablets taken together, plus prednisone as your doctor prescribes. People with moderate liver problems may take a lower dose. Always follow your doctor’s dose.
Do I take it with food?
No. Take it on an empty stomach: do not eat for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after your dose. Swallow the tablets whole with water; do not crush or chew them.
Why do I need to take prednisone with it?
Abiraterone can raise blood pressure, lower potassium and cause fluid build-up. Taking prednisone exactly as prescribed lowers the chance of these side effects. Do not stop prednisone without talking to your doctor.
What if I miss a dose?
Take your usual dose the next day. If you miss more than one dose, tell your doctor right away.
Can women handle the tablets?
Women who are or may be pregnant should not handle the tablets, especially broken, crushed or damaged ones, without protection such as gloves, because abiraterone may harm an unborn baby.
Source: FDA-approved prescribing information and patient information for Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) tablets, Janssen Biotech, Inc., on DailyMed (revised 11/2024). This page is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
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